What are libraries to you? Libraries are not just warehouses for books but are important parts of the community. They provide access to information and different types of resources, they build community, promote literacy, and protect our right to read what we choose.
Libraries are always being challenged with finding the right ways to meet the needs of their community members while facing budget cuts, staffing issues, or other challenges.
Now imagine being able to go up to the library at any time that you want. You go up to that front door and flash your library card under the scanner. The doors open, and the library is all yours. What a dream, right?
Some libraries are using this concept to ensure that people get their needs met. In some areas, self-service libraries give access to those who need it such as people who work odd hours or those who live in areas that for some reason just doesn’t have a library.
Self-service libraries can be libraries that permit access to their buildings outside normal hours. Express library branches are non-staffed library spaces. In these locations a patron would scan their library card to get access to a location that has wi-fi, computers, books, and other resources determined to be needed by that community.
Libraries such as this work best when they are planned with the needs of the community in mind. Michael Casey said that ““ The community should be involved in the brainstorming for new ideas and services, they should play a role in planning for those services, and they should definitely be involved in the evaluation and review process.”
One fantastic example of an express branch that was fully designed with the community in mind is the Monterey Park express branch in Mesa az. This location was build with input from the community and in connection with several city departments including the Parks and Rec department and the school district. This location has books, activities for kids, seating areas, a video kiosk to connect to a live librarian, and it even has an augmented reality assistant named Veronica offering assistance to patrons. Outside the library is a playground, baseball field, tennis courts, and other community services.
Libraries should consider looking into these types of options when faced with budget cuts or when they discover more need for information in their communities. Yes, we have access to electronic items, but at times what is needed is the building itself.